Was Festive 500, now it's 8 Cols in 8 Days Challenge

135

Comments

  • pblakeney said:

    i.bhamra said:

    Just signed up for the free trial and had a quick go, all going well until my 7 yr old 1st gen kickr finally died. Looks like the ratchet ring in the hub has worn down to the point that it lets go of the pawls when any appreciable torque is applied.

    Got a deal on a Saris H3, the box also includes a code for 30 days Rouvy subscription. Let's hope the Saris lasts (at least) as long as the Kickr did! Rouvy looks great by the way, looking forward to the challenge!

    Any one one a first gen Kickr for spares/repair?! All works...apart from the freehub engagement!

    Yes, I am really enjoying Rouvy and the Italian racing scene especially... the right level for me... not stupidly PRO level, but challenging enough... 18th yesterday up the Col San Carlo... 50 minutes at nearly 270W... I never pulled out those numbers before... at the end I was shagged

    https://www.strava.com/activities/6401383913



    I'd be wary of those figures. I had the distinct impression that the climb out of Nice was much easier than it should have been during my test ride. Try a known route.
    I've done a few cols now and they feel about right... the Gavia felt very hard, as it should. I don't think I'd be able to do the same times up the real climbs... there is altitude to take into account, the inevitable cross winds, maybe heat... I'm pretty sure I can do the San Carlo in an hour or just under (1050 mt of climbing)... maybe not in 50 minutes though... but the power figures should be realistic... it certainly felt like the hardest 50 minutes I've ever done... dropping people and chasing people gives you extra boost. I started the climb in 31st place and was 18th at the top...
    left the forum March 2023
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,292
    ...guess I'll find out on Friday.
    I'll know if I get a PB. 😉
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • mrb123
    mrb123 Posts: 4,813
    My best time for Hardknott on there is pretty close to my best real world time. It undoubtedly feels a lot worse doing the real thing though - rather less chance of falling off on the turbo!
  • N0bodyOfTheGoat
    N0bodyOfTheGoat Posts: 6,053
    edited December 2021
    I did some last minute training back in late September, in preparation to tackle my first ever real cat2 climb nine days later, starting a free trial of Rouvy and tackling the planned Road To Hell climb.

    Given how I did the real thing with less than fresh legs from overdoing the prep a bit, plus there was a bit of a headwing on the day and I'd ridden for ~90mins beforehand, the comparison is reasonable...

    Rouvy https://www.strava.com/activities/6044411929/analysis/127/2146

    The real McCoy https://www.strava.com/activities/6087111135/analysis/5001/7179
    ================
    2020 Voodoo Marasa
    2017 Cube Attain GTC Pro Disc 2016
    2016 Voodoo Wazoo
  • Did Bealach Na Ba this morning... more or less the time I was expecting and a bit faster than the real thing back in 2016, when I was 5 kg heavier (and had CX tyres).
    Easy climb, just as I thought at the time, wildly over rated in terms of difficulty... but still a beautiful place.

    https://www.strava.com/activities/6410073283
    left the forum March 2023
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,292
    Anyone got a planned time of depart for the 24th?
    I'm thinking 08:00-09:00.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • mrb123
    mrb123 Posts: 4,813

    Did Bealach Na Ba this morning... more or less the time I was expecting and a bit faster than the real thing back in 2016, when I was 5 kg heavier (and had CX tyres).
    Easy climb, just as I thought at the time, wildly over rated in terms of difficulty... but still a beautiful place.

    https://www.strava.com/activities/6410073283

    If you want the Lakeland climbs Ugo, they're all on there as sections of the Whitton. From memory, Hardknott is section 8, Newlands and Honister both also on there. They filmed it during one of the nice sunny years too.

    Some of the best quality routes tend to be the Swiss ones - Sustenpass and Oberalppass spring to mind as good ones.

  • mrb123 said:

    Did Bealach Na Ba this morning... more or less the time I was expecting and a bit faster than the real thing back in 2016, when I was 5 kg heavier (and had CX tyres).
    Easy climb, just as I thought at the time, wildly over rated in terms of difficulty... but still a beautiful place.

    https://www.strava.com/activities/6410073283

    If you want the Lakeland climbs Ugo, they're all on there as sections of the Whitton. From memory, Hardknott is section 8, Newlands and Honister both also on there. They filmed it during one of the nice sunny years too.

    Some of the best quality routes tend to be the Swiss ones - Sustenpass and Oberalppass spring to mind as good ones.

    I've seen them, but I might not have the gears for Hardknott ATM... then again, I suppose I can grind at 30 RPM without falling off... :-)

    left the forum March 2023
  • pblakeney said:

    Anyone got a planned time of depart for the 24th?
    I'm thinking 08:00-09:00.

    Something like that... I might be slightly later if I have to walk the dog, but I can catch you :-)
    What's your name on it?
    left the forum March 2023
  • mrb123
    mrb123 Posts: 4,813

    mrb123 said:

    Did Bealach Na Ba this morning... more or less the time I was expecting and a bit faster than the real thing back in 2016, when I was 5 kg heavier (and had CX tyres).
    Easy climb, just as I thought at the time, wildly over rated in terms of difficulty... but still a beautiful place.

    https://www.strava.com/activities/6410073283

    If you want the Lakeland climbs Ugo, they're all on there as sections of the Whitton. From memory, Hardknott is section 8, Newlands and Honister both also on there. They filmed it during one of the nice sunny years too.

    Some of the best quality routes tend to be the Swiss ones - Sustenpass and Oberalppass spring to mind as good ones.

    I've seen them, but I might not have the gears for Hardknott ATM... then again, I suppose I can grind at 30 RPM without falling off... :-)

    TBH the turbo trainers generally won't fully replicate gradients that steep so if you're a couple of gears short it probably makes it more realistic.

  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,292
    edited December 2021

    pblakeney said:

    Anyone got a planned time of depart for the 24th?
    I'm thinking 08:00-09:00.

    Something like that... I might be slightly later if I have to walk the dog, but I can catch you :-)
    What's your name on it?
    Fairly easy to spot - PBlakeney2. 😉
    09:00 is my late cut-off as I have to be dressed and ready for lunch well in advance of 12:00. Catching is very much a possibility. My PB is 1:49:19 on FulGaz but that is from Bedoin and 3 miles longer. I have no problem with having a target on my back. 😉
    My objective is to complete. Time is immaterial.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • pblakeney said:

    pblakeney said:

    Anyone got a planned time of depart for the 24th?
    I'm thinking 08:00-09:00.

    Something like that... I might be slightly later if I have to walk the dog, but I can catch you :-)
    What's your name on it?
    Fairly easy to spot - PBlakeney2. 😉
    09:00 is my late cut-off as I have to be dressed and ready for lunch well in advance of 12:00. Catching is very much a possibility. My PB is 1:49:19 on FulGaz but that is from Bedoin and 3 miles longer. I have no problem with having a target on my back. 😉
    My objective is to complete. Time is immaterial.
    I can start at 8:30 no probs… 8 o clock is more difficult. Should be able to go under 1:30 hopefully

    left the forum March 2023
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,292
    edited December 2021

    pblakeney said:

    pblakeney said:

    Anyone got a planned time of depart for the 24th?
    I'm thinking 08:00-09:00.

    Something like that... I might be slightly later if I have to walk the dog, but I can catch you :-)
    What's your name on it?
    Fairly easy to spot - PBlakeney2. 😉
    09:00 is my late cut-off as I have to be dressed and ready for lunch well in advance of 12:00. Catching is very much a possibility. My PB is 1:49:19 on FulGaz but that is from Bedoin and 3 miles longer. I have no problem with having a target on my back. 😉
    My objective is to complete. Time is immaterial.
    I can start at 8:30 no probs… 8 o clock is more difficult. Should be able to go under 1:30 hopefully

    I'll start when I like then! 🤣

    (Aim for 08:30)
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • i.bhamra
    i.bhamra Posts: 304
    Looking forward to this, will aim for 8.30 am start on Friday too, my username on Rouvy is Inder_B. Optimistically I'll be aiming for 180-200 average which is around 3W/kg to hopefully allow for repeating the effort for 8 days...
  • Paolocop is gonna be me, innit…. Aiming for 8:40 or so…
    left the forum March 2023
  • Obviously managed to rest today… but then I joined a race and things went a bit wild… in short, 30 minutes at 4.2 W/kg…. :s
    On the plus side, I finished 3rd

    https://www.strava.com/activities/6418263945
    left the forum March 2023
  • Obviously managed to rest today… but then I joined a race and things went a bit wild… in short, 30 minutes at 4.2 W/kg…. :s
    On the plus side, I finished 3rd

    https://www.strava.com/activities/6418263945

    FTP increase to 266, based on 95% of your best 20min Strava data.
    ================
    2020 Voodoo Marasa
    2017 Cube Attain GTC Pro Disc 2016
    2016 Voodoo Wazoo
  • Cheated and started today. Ventoux in 1:21.33. Never really done climbs that long before. Last couple of KM’s were really tough.

    May have to take it steadier tomorrow.
  • Cheated and started today. Ventoux in 1:21.33. Never really done climbs that long before. Last couple of KM’s were really tough.

    it's the wind that gets you over the last few km... :D

    left the forum March 2023
  • Cheated and started today. Ventoux in 1:21.33. Never really done climbs that long before. Last couple of KM’s were really tough.

    it's the wind that gets you over the last few km... :D

    It was a good job this was done virtually otherwise gravity would have taken me back down the mountain I was that slow in the last km…….

    There’s a horrible little kick of 14% near the top. Brutal.
  • Perysoude done in 53.51.

    Second half of the climb is a steady gradient so easy to get into a rhythm. Enjoyed that.
  • Day one done... not too hard
    PBlakeney, when I caught you I thought you really made a change of pace.
    :)
    https://www.strava.com/activities/6421405549
    left the forum March 2023
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,292
    Yeah. I was waiting up when I saw you coming then rode alongside for a bit till you sprinted. Cue George Thorogood and the Destroyers - When I drink ride, I drink ride alone. 😉
    Finished in 1:30:57 which counts as trivially annoying.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • Great effort guys 👍

    PBlakeney that must have been a gutter just missing 1:30. Well in though.
  • pblakeney said:

    Yeah. I was waiting up when I saw you coming then rode alongside for a bit till you sprinted. Cue George Thorogood and the Destroyers - When I drink ride, I drink ride alone. 😉
    Finished in 1:30:57 which counts as trivially annoying.

    I would have waited, but your power bar was in the red, so I figured out you wouldn't have lasted... in fairness you then did hang on 100-200 mt behind for quite a while and your power was constantly > 3W/kg

    It was fun though... what time we do the Balloon tomorrow?
    left the forum March 2023
  • I thought it was a lot easier than the Gavia I did last week... same amount of climbing, but the Ventoux doesn't have the big gradients
    left the forum March 2023
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,292
    I can't find any way to set my FTP etc. 3.0-3.5 w/kg is decent tempo for me.

    The Balloon will be done on a day when I have plenty of time.
    Day off tomorrow, much too much other stuff to do!
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • pblakeney said:

    I can't find any way to set my FTP etc. 3.0-3.5 w/kg is decent tempo for me.

    The Balloon will be done on a day when I have plenty of time.
    Day off tomorrow, much too much other stuff to do!

    From Rouvy website (not app), click on your icon and choose My account in the menu, you'll find the FTP, just edit it
    left the forum March 2023
  • For those cycling tomorrow, I'll be on the climb around 9 AM, I would think

    December 25th Day 2 Ballon d'Alsace 800 mt of climbing
    https://my.rouvy.com/virtual-routes/detail/34859
    left the forum March 2023
  • Ballon done, lovely climb, must be a stunner in summer with plenty of shade… steeper than I thought https://www.strava.com/activities/6424984593
    left the forum March 2023